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Gloria Hanson of Waukon is pictured exercising on the steps during one of her Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation sessions in the Veterans Memorial Hospital Cardiac Rehab Department. A Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation program is essential for the fullest recovery of a victim of a heart disorder and is available locally at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Cardiac Rehab nurse Amy Rolfs, RN is also pictured. Submitted photo.

Veterans Memorial Hospital began its own Cardiac Rehabilitation unit nearly two decades ago to help fulfill a need in the community - a need that has been and continues to be well utilized.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, where half a million people die each year due to this disease. Many people develop symptoms of heart disease when they are in their 40s or 50s, interrupting a most productive time of life. Cardiac Rehabilitation is an important tool in the fight against heart disease. Rehabilitation involves monitored exercise, nutritional counseling, emotional support and education about lifestyle changes to reduce risks of heart problems.

Veterans Memorial Hospital staff recently completed its annual high school basketball wellness games tour visiting all the neighboring schools of Monona, Postville, Lansing and Waukon, offering free wellness testing at each location.

Over 100 free wellness tests were completed on individuals who stopped at the booth. Information on sports nutrition and sports injuries was handed out, as well as a focus on the community wellness testing offered at the Laboratory at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Bernice Schrobeck by Frank and Sharon Hammel and in memory of Willis Johanningmeier by Lesa Moose.

Memorials were also received in memory of Earl Iverson by Vivian Iverson and in memory of Hazel Schlitter by Dave and Laurie Martin and Carl and Betty Christianson.

Memorials are greatly appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. The Foundation is a 501C3 organization, making all donations to the Foundation tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be dropped off at the hospital or mailed to Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA 52172.

Veterans Memorial Hospital nurses received a surprise visit from Loretta Schafer’s fourth grade class from St. Patrick School Wednesday, February 1. The class delivered two generous “random acts of kindness” baskets with goodies to their local nursing ‘heroes’. Pictured above is the fourth grade class with the nursing staff that were working at the hospital when the students made their surprise delivery. Submitted photo.

Veterans Memorial Hospital has announced it plans to transition to a new electronic medical record system the end of February. This new system will now link to all departments, encompassing all areas of the hospital, including the billing department.

With this change, patients will see a new statement following any hospital service which will be a completely different look from what they are used to receiving due to the use of a new vendor. In addition, patients’ account balances will also be handled by a new system that will be unfamiliar to current patients. For example, a patient may have a test performed in February and it will be processed through the current company, MedPay, and after March 1, self pay statements and phone calls will come from the new vendor instead.

Over 950,000 Americans die each year from cardiovascular disease. Since February is National Heart Month, Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon provides the following facts and tips on heart health:
- 250,000 people die within one hour of onset of a heart attack.
- 60-70% of those individuals are male.
- Heart disease is the number-one killer of American women and men.
- 75-80% of cardiac arrests happen in the home.
- Bystander CPR does improve the outcome once someone has arrested.
- Traditional CPR courses are not reaching those who live with high-risk populations.
- Rapid defibrillation is the most important treatment for victims.
- For every minute delay in defibrillation there is a 10% loss for chance of survival.
- In the case of heart attack, “Time is Muscle.”
- In the case of stroke, “Time is Brain Tissue.”

Sweating, nausea, dizziness and unusual fatigue may not sound like typical heart attack symptoms, but they are common for women. Pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest is not always severe or even the most prominent heart attack symptom, particularly in women. These symptoms may occur more often when women are resting or even asleep.

“That is why it’s important for women to understand their unique symptoms and work to reduce their risk of heart disease,” says Elizabeth Leschensky, family nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic Health System Franciscan Healthcare in Waukon.

Certain factors play a bigger role in the development of heart disease in women than the traditional risks of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity. “Women should control traditional risk factors as well as these to help prevent heart disease,” says Leschensky.

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Wednesday, February 8 at 2 p.m. This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief.

Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support group meets the second Wednesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.